Body Art Shop Owners Take Notice: Hefty OSHA Penalties for BBP Violations

SAN DIEGO - April 25, 2013 - PRLog -- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that it cited Keystone Pain Institute, a Pennsylvania medical clinic, with serious health violations involving bloodborne pathogens (BBP) hazards.

OSHA said that its inspection of Keystone was prompted by a complaint and resulted in proposed penalties of $46,000.

Keystone has 15 days from receipt of the citations to comply or contest the citations and proposed penalties.  

So, why should body art shop owners be concerned about a medical facility getting cited by OSHA?

In its April 18, 2013 press release, OSHA said this about the alleged violations at Keystone, ”The serious violations include the company's failure to conduct a written hazard assessment; provide workers with the Hepatitis B vaccination series and training on bloodborne pathogens; provide a written cleaning schedule; utilize engineering controls for sharps (IV catheters); properly color code and construct regulated waste containers to prevent leakage; implement adequate procedures for handling of blood or other potentially infectious materials to minimize splashing; and include an exposure determination in the written exposure control plan.”

All of the above are types of violations that could occur in a body art shop.

Just like Keystone, a body art shop is required by OSHA to protect employees who are occupationally exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials. In addition, many state and local governments have their own body art health and safety requirements. California’s new Safe Body Art Act, for example, requires body art shops to have a written plan to protect both artists and clients.

And just like Keystone, a body art shop might have an OSHA inspector, or a local health inspector, show up as the result of a complaint.

With the increased popularity of tattoos, permanent cosmetics, and piercing, the body art industry is being held to higher standards of workplace health and safety. Body art shop owners should expect strict federal and local enforcement of regulations and hefty fines for violations.

In light of OSHA’s inspection of Keystone, body art shop owners should ask themselves this question, “If an inspector unexpectedly showed up at my shop, could I immediately provide documentation to demonstrate that I operate a safe and healthful workplace? “

Shop owners who can’t answer that question with a firm "yes” should call Kathy Hartman at the Body Art Training Group at 858 792-1630 and ask about Easy Wizard™.

Easy Wizard™ is an online software program that helps body art shop owners quickly create a customized Exposure Control and Infection Prevention Plan (ECIPP).  An ECIPP is a comprehensive safety plan that specifies the policies and procedures used to protect everyone who enters a body art shop.

Using Easy Wizard™ to create and implement an ECIPP is the best way for a shop owner to prepare for an inspection—whether it’s by an inspector from OSHA or a local enforcement agency.

About the Body Art Training Group
The Body Art Training Group has been a leading provider of bloodborne pathogens training for the body art industry since 2007.  More information about the Body Art Training Group is available at: http://www.bodyarttraininggroup.com and http://www.yourtrainingplace.com.

The Body Art Training Group's bloodborne pathogens classes have been approved or recognized by: the American Electrology Association, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, many California counties, the State of Hawaii Department of Health, the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Kansas Board of Cosmetology, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Oregon Health Licensing Agency, the Washington State Department of Licensing, and the Denver Department of Environmental Health.